Current medical research and opinion
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The Longitudinal Health Insurance Database (LHID) 2010 was used to identify gout cases and their number of gout flares. ⋯ In conclusion, patients with frequent gout flares had higher healthcare utilization and gout-related healthcare costs. Colchicine + NSAIDs are commonly used therapy for gout flare.
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Potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, there is a paucity of data on how hospitalization affects PIM use in older adults with CKD. Therefore, we aimed to measure the impact of hospitalization on PIM use in older CKD patients, and identify factors predicting PIM use. ⋯ PIMs were commonly used in older CKD patients. Hospitalization was associated with a reduction in PIM use, but there was considerable scope for improvement in these susceptible individuals.
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Everolimus is the only FDA approved drug to treat renal angiomyolipoma or subependymal giant-cell astrocytoma (SEGA) in tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). Potential differences exist between patients with commercial and Medicaid insurance on everolimus use; however, there is limited information from the real world. This study compared compliance and persistence of everolimus between commercial and Medicaid patients using US claims data. ⋯ Among TSC patients with renal angiomyolipoma or SEGA and treated with everolimus, everolimus MPR was between 0.74 and 0.81. Medicaid patients had lower MPR than commercial patients but better persistence.
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Comparative Study
Effectiveness and safety of micronized purified flavonoid fraction for the treatment of concomitant varicose veins of the pelvis and lower extremities.
Concomitant varicose veins of the pelvis (VVP) and lower extremities (VVLE) frequently coexist. This study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of micronized purified flavonoid fraction (MPFF) in the treatment of patients with both conditions. ⋯ Phlebotropic treatment with MPFF is an effective and safe method of conservative therapy in patients with concomitant VVP and VVLE.
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Previously we reported on severe vitamin D deficiency in a large-scale cohort in the Tangshan area in northern China. However, whether vitamin D deficiency is associated with cardiovascular risk factors has not been systematically examined in the cohort. ⋯ Vitamin D deficiency is found to be associated with dyslipidemia in a cohort of 3788 subjects. Specifically, serum 25(OH)D is inversely correlated with LDL cholesterol and triglycerides levels, and positively correlated with HDL cholesterol level.